# too parochial? Need a good car pick-up spot on the Blue Line north from O'Hare **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 21, 2017, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-parochial-need-a-good-car-pick-up-spot-on-the-blue-line-north-from-ohare/802327 "2017-11-21T22:24:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-parochial-need-a-good-car-pick-up-spot-on-the-blue-line-north-from-ohare/802327/1 "2017-11-21T22:24:39Z")
This is a Chicago question, but I see that the Chicago forum no longer appears as an option. So - my son is coming into O’Hare tomorrow at 5:30 pm - the absolute worst time to try to pick someone up out there. If he takes the Blue Line from there, where would he get off the train that I could conveniently pick him up? Anything that makes my ride a bit easier would be preferable to dealing with O’Hare, but I need to find a stop on the Blue Line that would be relatively easy to spot someone and pick them up. The farther north, the better, since we’re in Evanston. ---
**Author:** ![motu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/motu/32/259_2.png) [@motu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/motu)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-parochial-need-a-good-car-pick-up-spot-on-the-blue-line-north-from-ohare/802327/2 "2017-11-21T22:45:55Z")
I’ll suggest [Harlem](http://www.transitchicago.com/travel_information/station.aspx?StopId=69) furthest station from O’Hare that does have a parking lot. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-parochial-need-a-good-car-pick-up-spot-on-the-blue-line-north-from-ohare/802327/3 "2017-11-21T22:48:41Z")
> [@motu](#): > > I’ll suggest [Harlem](http://www.transitchicago.com/travel_information/station.aspx?StopId=69) furthest station from O’Hare that does have a parking lot. It’s also the last stop before the Blue Line turns southeast. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-parochial-need-a-good-car-pick-up-spot-on-the-blue-line-north-from-ohare/802327/4 "2017-11-21T22:55:08Z")
> [@motu](#): > > I’ll suggest [Harlem](http://www.transitchicago.com/travel_information/station.aspx?StopId=69) furthest station from O’Hare that does have a parking lot. I agree on the Harlem stop but Higgings is closed just west of that CTA lot and it is kind of screwing up the flow of things. Instead, park in the Taco Burrito King lot across Harlem. If you’re heading north on Harlem after the pickup, make sure you exit that parking lot from the alley (along the building) and not one-way-the-wrong-way Gregory (along the Kennedy). ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-parochial-need-a-good-car-pick-up-spot-on-the-blue-line-north-from-ohare/802327/5 "2017-11-22T21:33:19Z")
Ok, folks, I’m taking a shot. Thanks for the ideas. If God remains neutral and this is successful, I will report back. If, however, s/he gets pissed and decides that such an elegant plan is due for some smiting, I’ll report that, too. xo, C. ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-parochial-need-a-good-car-pick-up-spot-on-the-blue-line-north-from-ohare/802327/6 "2017-11-22T21:40:17Z")
Maybe text him to warn him that a single ride will cost 5 or 6 dollars because of the O’hare ‘surcharge’ rather than $2.50 like some of the signs may lead him to believe. ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-parochial-need-a-good-car-pick-up-spot-on-the-blue-line-north-from-ohare/802327/7 "2017-11-22T22:37:26Z")
Good advice, but too late. He’s a big boy. I hope he’s bringing more than six dollars with him. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Downtown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mr\_Downtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Downtown)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2017, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-parochial-need-a-good-car-pick-up-spot-on-the-blue-line-north-from-ohare/802327/8 "2017-11-23T05:04:29Z")
Prolly too late, but a better option might be for him to ride the (free) Airport Transit System to Economy Parking Lot E. That’s about 100 feet from O’Hare’s current “Cell Phone Lot,” where you can sit for free so long as you’re in the car. The Cell Phone Lot is on Bessie Coleman Drive, just south of Higgins & Mannheim, meaning you can get there via Oakton without ever braving any of the expressways. ---
**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2017, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-parochial-need-a-good-car-pick-up-spot-on-the-blue-line-north-from-ohare/802327/9 "2017-11-23T05:52:58Z")
Or do what everyone else does. Take 190-W and pull over just past River Rd and wait for the call. Bessie Coleman is so clogged with taxis and ubers it’ll take you half an hour. ---
**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2017, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-parochial-need-a-good-car-pick-up-spot-on-the-blue-line-north-from-ohare/802327/10 "2017-11-23T05:55:04Z")
Where are you coming from? If blue line is an option then I’d say Jeff Park is the best. Plenty of lots like Popeyes across the street to sit and listen to the radio and you avoid a ton of traffic. ---
**Author:** ![anomalous1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@anomalous1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anomalous1)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2017, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-parochial-need-a-good-car-pick-up-spot-on-the-blue-line-north-from-ohare/802327/11 "2017-11-23T06:37:52Z")
I also agree with the idea of the Harlem Blue line stop. Its 5-10 minutes on the train to Harlem. You’ll find parking around there too. Best possible situation to be honest. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2017, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-parochial-need-a-good-car-pick-up-spot-on-the-blue-line-north-from-ohare/802327/12 "2017-11-23T12:57:37Z")
Not the cheapest option, but if you’re looking for convenience, I can heartily recommend [American Taxi](http://www.americantaxi.com). They pick up at O’Hare and go to the suburbs. O’Hare to Evanston looks like a flat-rate $32. I take these guys all the time when I travel to my company’s home office in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago. Oops: nevermind, I see he’s already arrived. Didn’t think to look at the OP post date. ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2017, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-parochial-need-a-good-car-pick-up-spot-on-the-blue-line-north-from-ohare/802327/13 "2017-11-23T15:10:05Z")
Oh, baby, Oh, baby - Harlem worked perfectly. Of course the ride from Evanston to the stop took a good bit of time, but was waaay better than going near the airport. Piece of cake. Thanks, all. xo, C.